|
 Celaya-Creager House - Brownsville, Texas Posted by:  JimmyEv
N 25° 54.413 W 097° 30.173
14R E 649956 N 2866227
Architect M.E. Tracy designed two adjacent Classical Revival behemoths in 1911, one for Jose and Serafina Celaya, with a huge wrap-around porch, and the other for Serafina’s parents, Jose and Juanita Fernandez, distinguished by its grand entrance.
Waymark Code: WM3B8Q
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 03/08/2008
Views: 53
Jose Celaya was one of at least two sons of Simon Celaya, organizer of Brownsville’s first railroad - the Rio Grande Railroad, linking Brownsville to the port at Point Isabel. Jose and his brother Augustine grew their father’s assets, remaining one of the most prominent families in Brownsville. Jose’s good fortune was enhanced by his marriage to Serafina Fernandez.
Serafina’s father, Jose Fernandez, had been born in Spain, immigrated to Brownsville, and made a fortune importing coffee to America from his Mexican ranch in Veracruz. When Jose and Serafina built this house in 1911, the home immediately to the north was built for Serafina’s parents. Jose Celaya eventually served on the Cameron County Commissioner’s Court.
|
|
|
In 1924, the home was sold to Rentfro Banton Creager, a native of Waco who earned his fortune through ownership of citrus orchards. Creager was extremely active in the national Republican party, being the Republican nominee for Texas governor in 1916 and participating in the nominations of Warren G. Harding, Herbert Hoover and Alfred Landon. His participation in the party paid off - he received a nomination to be the customs collector for the Brazos de Santiago District.
|
Street address:
441 East Washington Street
Brownsville, TX USA
County / Borough / Parish: Cameron County
Year listed: 1988
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Person, Architecture/Engineering
Periods of significance: 1900-1924
Historic function: Residence
Current function: Nursing Home
Privately owned?: yes
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 1: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.
|